1768 REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS. 



most fantastic shapes ; bowlders and gravel of all kinds, including volcanic rock, fill- 

 ing the bed of the stream everywhere. 



At several points near the canon's mouth, clinging to the bits of earth on side rocks, 

 were bushes of red raspberries, the largest and most luscious seen anywhere, with quan- 

 tities of service and goose berries, wild cherries being found in the valley below. 



The Blanco is here a clear and beautiful stream ; no ranchman has at any point above 

 the road-crossing penetrated its land. While its upper valley is far handsomer for 

 several miles than that of the Navajo, the preferred ground of the red man, on account 

 of its beiug almost inaccessible from all sides no Indian has entered it, although they 

 swarm in that of the former in search of game and wild berries, the latter their most 

 important article of summer diet. 



THE SAN JUAN. 



Upon the Rio San Juan (signifying the river of Saint John), the next river to the 

 west, and the great drainage channel of the country, agriculture has made less progress 

 upon the upper river than upon the lower. The Pagosa Hot Springs were a bone of 

 contention between Indians and whites, and later have been among the whites them- 

 selves, until the executive order of the President declaring them a reservation. 



To the east, west, and northeast of the springs, at an elevation not exceeding 7,200 

 feet on both sides of the San Juan lies within a few miles a large area comprising many 

 thousands of acres, which, with irrigation, would be very valuable for farming pur- 

 poses. As yet but a few log cabius appear, and further no step has been taken to hold 

 or improve the land. Many herds of sheep are driven to and fro through this region, 

 nearly all tarrying at Pagosa Springs, up to which all the sheep "are driven, the Mexi- 

 can herders stating that the waters thereof are highly beneficial to the animals. 



Some 10 or 11 miles above the springs, upon the west fork of the river, locally so 

 called, several persons have located and were at work upon their cabins when we 

 were there encamped. Bordered by high mountains, over 1,500 feet upon one side and 

 approaching 2,500 on the other, at an elevation of about 7,600 feet, this valley con- 

 tains a large acreage of land finely adapted to agricultural purposes. The ranchmen 

 have already provided an outlet by a passable wagon road of their own construction, 

 connecting Avith the county road at Pagosa. The San Juan and it tributaries all 

 canon in their upper parts, and above this elevation there are no valuable spots worthy 

 of mention in this connection. 



The most fertile region is along the lower part of this river, including the section 

 from the east of the Las Animas down, the richest and most valuable land of the San 

 Juan being soil of New Mexico. It is rapidly being located upon since the opening 

 of the Jicarilla Apache reservation, and settlers Avill soon fill the entire area to the 

 Navajo reserve. 



The climate of this region differs most radically from that of the river above, being 

 hot and arid away from the banks of the streams, the A r egetation being chiefly of the 

 sage and cacti order, with pifion upon the mesa sides. Little of a Avinter season occurs, 

 the elevation being in the main embraced between 5,500 feet and 5,100 in altitude. 

 Strong alkaline constituents are present in the soil and from the great denudation dur- 

 ing the rainy season and the high stages of water which occur, its banks are each time 

 resupplied with fertilizing elements in great abundance. Possessed, therefore, in this 

 latitude of the mild climate of central New Mexico, seA r eral hundred miles to the south, 

 the fine agricultural capabilities and the range of juoduction f this region may at 

 once be conjectured. Beyond, still farther down the San Juan, the Navajoes are 

 industrious farmers, corn being the main product, and as a sample of the crops they 

 obtain, a handsome ear Avas brought back. The crop Avas raised upon one of the bot- 

 tom holes along the San Juan, cultivated without irrigation, Avatered only during a 

 high stage of the river. The corn tassels were of the height of a rider's head upon 

 horseback. 



THE RIO NUTRIA. 



The Rio Nutria is the next upon the west, and a tributary to the Piedra. The name 

 of this stream upon the maps seems to be erroneous as we were informed by Colonel 

 Pfeiffer, a former agent of the Ute Indians, and a resident of this region for many years ; 

 that it was originally Notre Francis, being so called after a Frenchman, who with two 

 Mexicans, was killed by the Indians near its mouth and there burned. Their graves 

 are situated upon the mesa bank of the Piedra, o\ T erlooking the mouth of its tribu- 

 tary. 



This stream, more properly a creek than a river, possesses but a very limited acreage 

 adapted to farming purposes. But one ranch in the locality is worthy of mention, that 

 of Messrs. Meyer, Stolzheimer & Co., near a spring hard by the stream, and at the edge 

 of the Indian reservation. Their investments are Avholly in the shape of stock and in- 

 clude some 2,300 head of cattle, 8,000 sheep, and 73 horses. This firm has a sort of 

 treaty or agreement with Ignacio's bands, three tribes of the Utes, who permit their 

 stock to range over their land receiving in return at various interA r als quantities of the 

 choicest beef. 



